A new method for detecting bowel cancer has been discovered by a study conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research, in collaboration with doctors at St Mark’s, a specialist bowel hospital in London.
Published in the Gut journal and funded by Cancer Research UK, the study monitored 122 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, half of whom developed bowel cancer within five years.
People with IBD are susceptible to cancer as the condition irritates the lining of the bowel, leading to the formation of abnormal pre-cancerous cells if left untreated.
However, not all IBD patients will develop bowel cancer but most are offered consistent monitoring tests like colonoscopies to check their risk.
As part of their research, scientists developed an algorithm that calculates a person’s risk of future bowel cancer based on these DNA extracts. This algorithm accurately predicted whether a patient would develop bowel cancer in the next five years with more than 90% accuracy.
There is hope that this discovery and algorithm could be transformed into a blood test for IBD patients and others at high risk of bowel cancer.
Currently, the half a million Brits with IBD are offered regular checks for the pre-cancerous growths they are predisposed to, but this test only indicates a 30% chance of bowel cancer developing in the next 10 years.
Professor Ailsa Hart from St Mark’s, co-lead of the study, has provided insights into the current tests for IBD patients: “These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services. If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated.”
Researchers are also hopeful their work could mean less stress and discomfort for those with a lower risk of bowel cancer by potentially avoiding frequent colonoscopies. Professor Trevor Graham of the ICR, another lead researcher, added: “Most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease won’t develop bowel cancer.”
He continued, “But for those that have these conditions and are showing signs of pre-cancer in their colon, there are some tough decisions to make. Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn’t become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don’t get cancer in the future. Neither of these options are particularly pleasant.”
Cancer Research UK’s Executive director of research and innovation, Dr Iain Foulkes, commented on the time and cost-saving potential of this research: “Genome sequencing is now far cheaper and more widespread than ever before, and it’s changing how we look at cancer.
“With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
